Devices for distributing material

ABSTRACT

A spreader device having a hopper on a frame supported on front and rear ground wheels. One or more rotatable spreaders are mounted beneath a nozzle at the lower side of the hopper and between the ground wheels, when viewed from aside. When a plurality of rotatable spreaders are included, they can be located side-by-side or in spaced relationship along the longitudinal center line of the device. The spreaders can be turned in the same or different directions. The device can be hitched to a prime mover and steered by an axle connecting its front ground wheels. Each rotary spreader can be controlled by its dosing mechanism having a control member extending to the front of the device. A guide hood can be positioned above the rotary spreader and the spreader supported on an adjustable portion of the frame. The hopper can be divided into several delivery funnels of different sizes.

llite States atent van der Eely [451 WEN [54] DEVICES FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL [72] Inventor: Cornelis van der Lely, 7 Bruschenrain,

Zug, Switzerland [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 11,601

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 21, 1969 Netherlands ..69027l2 [52] U.S. Cl... ..239/682 [51] Int. Cl ...A01c 17/00 [58] Field of Search ..239/673, 682

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,167,319 l/l965 Kerr ..239/682 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King I Attorney-Mason, Mason & Albright [5 7] ABSTRACT A spreader device having a hopper on a frame supported on front and rear ground wheels. One or more rotatable spreaders are mounted beneath a nozzle at the lower side of the hopper and between the ground wheels, when viewed from aside. When a plurality of rotatable spreaders are included, they can be located side-by-side or in spaced relationship along the longitudinal center line of the device. The spreaders can be turned in the same or different directions. The device can be hitched to a prime mover and steered by an axle connecting its front ground wheels. Each rotary spreader can be controlled by its dosing mechanism having a control member extending to the front of the device. A guide hood can be positioned above the rotary spreader and the spreader supported on an adjustable portion of the frame. The hopper can be divided into several delivery funnels of different sizes.

30 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR28 1912 3.652.019

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sum 1m 17 DEVICES FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL Object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind set forth by means of which material can be distributed in a simple manner over large areas. According to the invention this can be achieved by arranging a spreading member between the axles of the ground wheels, viewed transversely of the travelling direction and by connecting a ground wheel movably with the frame so that it can be steered by means of a coupling member by which the device can be coupled with a propelling vehicle, for example, a tractor.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is obtained by providing it with two steerable ground wheels, which are arranged one at each end of an axle in the frame so as to be pivotable about vertical or substantially vertical axes.

In a further device embodying the invention the distribution of the material can be improved by providing the device with two spreading members adapted to turn about upwardly extending axes, said members being arranged side by side, viewed in the direction of movement of the device.

A further device embodying the invention capable of distributing the material in an advantageous manner can be obtained by providing it with two spreading members adapted to move about vertical or substantially vertical axes, one of which is located after the other, viewed in the direction of movement of the device. In a further construction of this embodiment the spreading members are inclined downwards in a direction towards each other. The material can thus be ejected without being hindered by parts of the device.

In a further embodiment of the invention the device comprises only one spreading member adapted to turn about an upwardly extending axis, which is located in a vertical plane going through the longitudinal axis of the device, the spreading member being arranged between the ground wheels, viewed transversely of the direction of movement.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises a guide hood joining the spreading member and located at one end above the spreading member and inclined downwardly away from the spreading member, substantially in the same direction in which the spreading member is inclined in the frame.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention can furthermore be obtained by providing it with two spreading members arranged one after the other viewed in the direction of movement and adapted to turn each about an axis extending substantially in the direction of movement of the device. The material can thus be distributed more in a vertical direction, which may be advantageous in covering given areas.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, which show a few embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention, comprising two spreading members arranged between the axles,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device shown in FIG. I viewed in the direction of the arrow III in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a dosing mechanism between the hopper and the spreading member in the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in the direction of the arrow V in FIG. 1 of a control-member for the dosing mechanism,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI in FIG. 1 of part of the connection of a supporting for the control-members of the dosing mechanism,

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken on the line VII-VII in FIG. 1 of the connection of two supporting frames of the spreading members,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention, in which one spreading member adapted to turn about a vertical axis is arranged behind the axles of the device and a further spreading member is arranged between the axles,

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a distributing device according to the invention comprising one spreading member adapted to move about a vertical axis and arranged between two axles.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the device of the kind shown in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the device shown in FIG. 9 in the direction of the arrow XI in FIG. 9,

FIG. 12 shows the arrangement of part of the drive of the spreading member viewed in the direction XIl--XII in FIG. 10,

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of a spreading device in accordance with the invention, in which only one spreading member adapted to turn about an upwardly extending axis is arranged between the axles,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of part of a guide hood joining the spreading member,

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which two spreading members are arranged between the axles side by side viewed in the direction of movement of the device,

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the distributing device of FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 16, viewed in the direction of the arrow XVIH in said Figure,

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of a distributing device according to the invention, in which two spreading members are adapted to turn about rotary axes extending substantially in the direction of movement of the device,

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the device of FIGS. 19 and 20, viewed in the direction of the arrow XXI in FIG. 19,

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of a dosing mechanism arranged between a spreading member and a delivery part of the hopper of the device of FIGS. 19 and 20, and

FIG. 23 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, in which one spreading member is arranged, viewed in the direction of movement, between two axles of the device and one spreading member is located behind the two axles.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 comprises a frame I and two backwheels 2,3 and two forewheels 4,5, viewed in the direction of movement. The ground wheels 2 and 3 are arranged at the ends of an axle 6, fixedly joumaled in the frame. The ground wheels 4 and 5 are arranged at the ends of an axle 7, joumaled in the frame. The frame 1 comprises supporting columns 8 and 9, rigidly secured to the axle 6 and two supporting columns, one (10) of which is shown in FIG. 1, are rigidly secured to the front axle 7. At the upper ends of the supporting columns the frame comprises a rectangular frame 11 having two long sides 12 and short sides 13 and 14. Each of the sides of the rectangular frame, as is illustrated for the side 12 in FIG. 3, is formed by a beam having a triangular vertical section and formed by sheets, the beam having a vertical side 15, a horizontal side 16 and a hypotenuse 17. The rectangular frame holds the hopper 18, whose capacity amounts to 2 to l0 cubic meters. The hopper preferably has a capacity of 6 to 8 cubic meters and in this embodiment 8 cubic meters. The hopper 18 has two downwardly tapering, funnel-shaped delivery parts 19 and 20. The delivery funnels 19 and 20 are spaced apart by a distance 23 equal to about one third of the overall length 21 of the hopper 18. The center of the delivery funnel 19 is spaced apart from the rear side of the hopper by a distance 22 equal to the distance 24 between the front side of the hopper and the center of the delivery funnel 20. The rear side 25, as well as the front side 27, is inclined at an angle 26 of about 45 to the horizontal plane. Between the delivery funnels l9 and 20 the oblique sides are each at an angle 36 of about 30 to the horizontal plane. Measured from the bottom side of the delivery funnels 19 and 20 each of them has a height 30 equal to about one fifth of the overall height 31 of the hopper.

In the longitudinal direction the hopper comprises inclined sides 32 and 33, each being at an angle 34 of about 45 to the horizontal plane (FIG. 3). n the upper side the hopper has an inwardly inclined rim 35, which is at an angle 36 of about 15 to the vertical. The inclined rim 35 extends over a height 70 approximately equal to one fifth of the height 31 of the hopper. The hopper has a width 71 approximately equal to half the length 21,

Beneath the delivery funnel 19 a spreading member 37 is adapted to turn about an upwardly extending rotary axis 49 and beneath the delivery part 29 a spreading member 38 is adapted to turn about an upwardly extending rotary axis 72. The spreading member 37 is fastened to a shaft 39, joumaled in a gear box 40. The gear box 40 is arranged on a supporting frame 41. The supporting frame 41 comprises two beams 42 and 43 arranged in V-shaped fashion and diverging to the rear, viewed in the direction of movement 73. The rear ends of the beams 42 and 43 are rotatably connected with aligned pins 44 and 45, which are fastened to tags 46 and 47. The tags 46 and 47 are secured to a downwardly extending screening plate 48, which forms a bent over end ofa covering plate 60. The covering plate 60 extends over a width 74, which is at least approximately equal to the width 71 of the device and the hopper. The outer sides of the plate 60 are level with the outer sides of the ground wheels 2 and 4 and 3, respectively. The rotary axis 49 coincides with the center line of the shaft 39 and occupies an inclined position, being in this embodiment at an angle 75 of about 7 to the vertical. This angle is preferably not smaller than 4 and not larger than 12. The rotary axis 49 is located in a vertical plane going through the longitudinal axis 76 of the device and is inclined to the front relative to the direction of movement 73. The spreading members 37 and 38 are arranged one behind the other between the wheels 2, 4 and 3, 5 respectively, viewed transversely of the direction of movement 73.

The spreading member 38 is fastened to a shaft 50, journaled in a gear box 51. The gear box 51 is fastened to a supporting frame 52 having two forwardly diverging beams 53 and 54. The supporting frame 52 is pivotally connected by the ends of the beams 53 and 54 with aligned pins 55 and 56, which are secured to tags 57 and 58 of a hanging screening plate 59, which forms a bent over portion of the covering plate 60. Both the screening plate 48 and the plate 59 extend from the upper side downwardly beyond the spreading members 37 and 38 respectively. The screening plate 48 is located, relatively to the direction of movement, at a short distance behind the spreading member 37 and the screening plate 49 is located at a short distance in front of the spreading member 38. The rotary axis 72 coincides with the center line of the shaft 50. The axis 72 is at an angle 77 of about 7 to the vertical and is also located in the vertical plane going through the longitudinal axis of the device. The rotary axis 72 is inclined to the rear, viewed in the direction of movement. The gear box 40 is secured to a transverse beam 78 of the supporting frame 41 and the gear box 51 is secured to a transverse beam 79 of the supporting frame 52. The frame 41 has a front end 61, interconnecting the beams 42 and 43 and having a tag 62 rigidly secured to it. The rear ends of the beams 53 and 54 ofthe supporting frame 52 are interconnected by a short side 63 having a tag 64. The tags 62 and 64 are located one on each side of the vertical plane going through the longitudinal axis 76 of the device and fit in between downwardly extending holders 65 and 66, arranged at the lower ends of rods 67 and 68, secured to the covering plate 60. Through the holes in the tags 62 and 64 and the holders 65 and 66 is taken a pin 69, which may be secured against displacement in the various holes, which is not shown in detail.

The transmission members in the gear box 40 are linked by an auxiliary shaft 80 to the driving members in the gear box 51. The auxiliary shaft 80 has at each end a universal joint 81 and 82 respectively, the universal joint 81 being detachable fro input shaft 83 of the gear box 40. The gear box 51 is furthermore coupled with a driving member formed by a driving shaft 84, which projects forwardly from the gear box 51 and is coupled with a shaft joumaled in the gear box 51 by means of a universal joint 85. The auxiliary shaft 80, which is located at the center of the device is arranged between the rods 67 and 68 by means of which the supporting frames 41 and 50 are secured to the covering plate 60. The driving shaft 84 can be coupled with the power takeoff shaft of a tractor or the like, to which the device can be hitched.

For coupling the device with a tractor or a similar vehicle a coupling arm is provided on the front axle 7 and provided at the front end with a coupling member 91. The coupling arm 90 is connected with the axle 7 so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis 92. Between the vertical shaft 92 and the coupling arm there is arranged a horizontal shaft 93, about which the coupling arm 90 is movable in a vertical sense.

The ground wheels 4 and 5 are steerable ground wheels and adapted to turn about vertical axes 94 and 95 relatively to the axle 7. Rods 96 and 97 are connected with the wheels 4 and 5 respectively and pivotally connected with rods 98 and 99 respectively, which are in turn pivoted to a vertical shaft 10 on the coupling arm 90 at a distance from the vertical shaft 92. A turn of the coupling arm 90 about the shaft 92 results in a turn of the wheels 4 and 5 about the vertical axes 94 and 95. The rods 98 and 99 may be longitudinally adjustable for obtaining a correct position of the wheels 4 and 5.

The covering plate 60 is provided with openings fitting around the delivery funnels l9 and 20. The covering plate 60 is located at the same level as the lower ends of the delivery funnels 19 and 20 and is fastened thereto by fastening tags 101 and 102 (FIG. 1).

Between the delivery funnel 19 and the spreading member 37 there is arranged a closing mechanism 105 and a dosing mechanism 106 is arranged between the delivery funnel 20 and the spreading member 38. These dosing mechanisms 105 and 106 are joining cylindrical outlet nozzles 107 and 108 respectively provided at the lower ends of the delivery funnels 19 and 20. The cylindrical outlet nozzles 107 and 108 are centrally to the rotary axes 49 and 72 respectively.

The closing mechanism 106 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and comprises a cylindrical ring 110, the upper end of which surrounds the lower end of the cylindrical outlet nozzle 108. The lower end of the cylindrical ring 110 bears on the disc-shaped central portion 1 11 of the spreading member 38, which forms an ejecting member and comprises ejecting arms secured to the ejecting disc 111. The ring 110 has three outlet ports 112, 113 and 114. The ring 110 is provided with tags 115 and 116, which have connected with them an adjusting arm 117 comprising two rods 118 and 119 arranged in V-fashion. The arm 1 17 bears on a guide beam 120 having a plurality of holes 121. The arm 117 has a pin 122, which can be inserted at will into one of the holes 121. The pin 122, which is inserted from the lower side of the guide beam 120 through one of the holes 121 is secured to a tag of the arm 117 located beneath the guide beam 120. The arm 117 is provided with a spring 123, which holds the pin 122 by pressure in one of the selected holes 121. The ring 110 is surrounded by a ring 124 provided with three slides 125, 126 and 127. The ring 124 is coupled by a pivotal rod 128 with a lever 129. The lever 129 is afforded by the vertical shaft 130 and arranged on the strip 119. The lever 129 is provided with tags 131 and 132, spaced apart by such a distance that the arm 133 is allowed to move over a small angle between them. The arm 133 forms one end of an adjusting arm 134, adapted to turn about the shaft 130 and provided with a roller 135, around which a rope 136 is passed, one end of which is fastened to a tag 137 secured to the arm 117. Via the roller the rope 136 passes along a roller 138 of the arm 117 to the front of the device, where the rope 136 is passed through a hole 139 (FIG. 5) in a supporting strip 140 and secured to a handle 141. The arm 117 is provided with a cam 142, which is adapted to cooperate with a stop 143 on the actuating arm 134. The strip 118 has a guide 144 with a dial. The guide 144 is provided with a stop 145 adapted to slide along the guide and to be fixed at will in one of a plurality of positions. The guide beam 120 is secured to the screening plate 59. 

1. A device for distributing material, including granular and powdery fertilizers, comprising a hopper on a frame and at least two spreading members, each of which is turnable about its respective substantially vertical rotary axis, one of said spreading members being located in back of the other spreading member, said vertical axes being located in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the device, each of said spreading members being mounted on a supporting frame work which is pivotably connected to said frame to be movable in an upward direction relative to said frame and fixable in at least one position, each of said supporting frame works being pivotable about a horizontal axis with respect to said frame, fixing members being provided to position each supporting frame work to said frame in at least one position, said frame being mounted on two axles with wheels thereon, one in back of the other, the front of said frame having a draw bar to connect said implement to a prime mover, plate means being positioned between each spreading member and said wheels to screen and cover parts of said implement from material being ejected by the spreading members.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary axes of said spreading members are at an angle of more than 4* and less than 20* to the vertical.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotary axes of the spreading members are at an angle of about 7* to the vertical.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spreading members are inclined downwards towards each other.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spreading members are located each below its respective delivery part of the hopper, whereby, in operation said spreading members distribute the material over substantially the same strip of land.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spreading members are each arranged adjacent a bent portion of said plate means whereby one spreading member distributes the material to the rear, and the other spreading member distributes the material to the front.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spreading members are each coupled with a common driving mechanism whereby said members both rotate in the same direction about their respective axes.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, viewed transversely of the direction of travel, said frame is supported by at least two ground wheels and said two spreading members are positioned between said ground wheels.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, viewed transversely of the direction of travel of said device, said frame is supported on at least two ground wheels and, one spreading member is arranged between said ground wheels and the other is located behind the said ground wheels.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said spreading members is coupled to its respective transmission member, the transmission members of said two spreading members being connected with each other via an auxiliary shaft.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmission member of a forward spreading member, is coupled through a driving shaft with the power takeoff shaft of a prime mover.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said spreading members is arranged beneath its respective delivery funnel of said hopper, and, viewed in the direction of travel, one of said delivery funnels is located to the rear of the other delivery funnel, the walls of said hopper being positioned at an angle of about 45* to the horizontal and the funnel walls between said two funnels each being at an angle of about 30* to the horizontal.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein one of said delivery funnels has a height approximately equal to one quarter of the height of said hopper.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal axes of said two supporting frameworks are located on the sides of said spreading members directed away from each other.
 15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the supporting frameworks of said two spreading members are connected with each other and fixable together relative to said frame by means of a fixing member on said device.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said fixing member is located midway between said two spreading members.
 17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein, on one side of each of said spreading members, a screening plate of said plate means is mounted on said device to face the ground wheels.
 18. A device as claimed in claim 17, Wherein the screening plates are provided on their upper sides with a covering plate extending over said spreading members.
 19. A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the covering plates of said spreading members are located above same and coupled to form a single covering plate which extends substantially over the whole width of said device.
 20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the supporting frameworks are secured to said covering plate by said fixing member.
 21. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hopper has a delivery funnel provided with at least one outlet opening adjacent each spreading member through which material can pass from the container to said spreading members, said delivery funnels tapering downwards towards said spreading members and each of said funnels having a height which is at least about one fifth of the height of said hopper.
 22. A device for distributing material, including granular and powdery fertilizers, comprising a hopper on a frame and at least two spreading members each of which is mounted on a rotary axis, each spreading member being mounted on a supporting framework pivotally connected to said frame, the framework of a first spreading member being releasably connected to the framework of a second spreading member by a fixing member and said fixing member being located between said first and said second spreading member when viewed from aside, plate means positioned above said spreading members to extend over substantially the entire width of said device and each framework being secured to said plate means by said fixing member, said fixing member comprising two rods secured to said plate means and provided at their lower ends with holders which fit tags on each framework, said tags having recesses to receive a fastening pin which is inserted through holes in said holders.
 23. A device for distributing material, including granular and powdery fertilizers, comprising a hopper on a frame and at least two spreading members rotatable about substantially vertical axes, said vertical axes being located in the vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of the said device, said frame having two wheel axles, one located in back of the other, a running wheel being mounted on each of the ends of said axles, and a first of said spreading members being located between said wheel axles and a second spreading member being located in back of both of said wheel axles, said hopper having a delivery funnel tapering downwardly towards the center part of each of said spreading members and each funnel having at its lower part, outlet means with at least one outlet opening through which material can flow from said hopper to a spreading member, covering means being associated with said outlet means to more or less close and open said outlet opening, a draw bar connected to the front of said frame, control means connected to the covering means of each outlet means and said control means extending forwardly adjacent said draw bar.
 24. A device for distributing material, including granular and powdery fertilizers, comprising a hopper on a frame and at least two spreading members rotatable about substantially horizontal axes, one of said spreading members being located in back of the other spreading member, said horizontal axes of said spreading members being located in a vertical plane which extends at least substantially along the longitudinal axis of said device, said hopper having a delivery funnel for each spreading member, each of said spreading members being located below its delivery funnel, each of said delivery funnels having a height which is at least one quarter of the height of said hopper, said device having two wheel axles connected to said frame with one axle being located in back of the other axle, and running wheels being mounted on said axles, a draw bar at the front of said device for connection to a prime mover.
 25. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said two spreading members are located between said tWo wheel axles.
 26. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein one of said spreading members is located between said two wheel axles and the other of said two spreading members is located in back of said two wheel axles.
 27. A device for distributing material, including granular and powdery fertilizers, comprising an elongated hopper on a frame with its long sides oriented in the direction of travel and at least two spreading members each rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a first of said spreading members being located on one side of a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of said device, and the second spreading member being located on the opposite side of said plane, said frame being provided with two wheel axles, one of which is located in back of the other and running wheels being mounted on the ends of said wheel axles, each of said spreading members being located adjacent a long side of said hopper when seen in plan view, said hopper having a delivery funnel tapering downwards towards the center part of each of said spreading members, the lower ends of said delivery funnels having outlet means with at least one outlet opening through which material can flow from said hopper to said spreading members.
 28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the axes of rotation of said spreading members are located at least substantially midway between the said two wheel axles.
 29. A device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said two spreading members have a common connection to a supporting framework which is pivoted to said frame and displaceable upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, fixing means associated with said framework to fix said supporting frame in at least one position relative to said frame.
 30. A spreading device for granular and powdery fertilizer materials, comprising a hopper with a plurality of delivery funnels at the lower portion of said hopper, a rotary spreading member mounted beneath each of said funnels, said hopper being mounted on a frame supported on front and rear ground wheels, at least one of said funnels and its respective spreading member being positioned between the front and rear ground wheels, said funnels being of different capacities, the lower ends of said delivery funnels each having outlet means with at least one outlet opening through which material can flow to said spreading members and covering means associated with each outlet to more or less open each of said outlets whereby varying amounts of different materials can be spread simultaneously. 